The Colossal Condor Galaxy NGC 6872 - with 8.2m VLT comparison

[rat156]

HI Mike,

Nice cluster you've got there. A little too cyan for me, just a tweak.

I spent a few weeks in Canberra a little while ago, if I didn't have such a crap memory I would have remembered that you were back there and looked you up. I was staying at HMAS Harman, even with the lighting there, the skies were much darker than at home.

I'm very much struggling with the inevitable spread of population down here, in combination with a fast, short FL scope the LP is so invasive, makes LRGB almost impossible using anything but very short subs. Faint detail in comet tails is washed out even in the darker (Western) part of my skies. Hence my propensity for NB images of late.

Looks like I'll have to get used to travelling, or get a job in Bungendore...

Cheers
Stu

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by rat156

HI Mike,

Nice cluster you've got there. A little too cyan for me, just a tweak.

I spent a few weeks in Canberra a little while ago, if I didn't have such a crap memory I would have remembered that you were back there and looked you up. I was staying at HMAS Harman, even with the lighting there, the skies were much darker than at home.

I'm very much struggling with the inevitable spread of population down here, in combination with a fast, short FL scope the LP is so invasive, makes LRGB almost impossible using anything but very short subs. Faint detail in comet tails is washed out even in the darker (Western) part of my skies. Hence my propensity for NB images of late.

Looks like I'll have to get used to travelling, or get a job in Bungendore...

Cheers
Stu

Yeah the skies here in Canberra are definitely better than most, if not all, other cities in Oz, the isolation and altitude coupled with no industrial activity does it I'd imagine.

Cyan you recon ...probably my propensity for blueness coming through there ... and perhaps your narrowband infected eyes aren't helping you either

Mike

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

I wanted to see what some of the faint structures and objects in my data actually were.

So in order to help identify what I managed to reveal in and around the massive spiral galaxy NGC 6872, I have compared my data to a deep high resolution image taken with
the 8.2m VLT (ANTU) at Parannal Observatory in Chile. The superior ANTU image helps to determine exactly what features are in my image and turns out there is a bit in there

This is a tight 6.8' X 6.8' field of view

VLT Comparison

Mike

[Shiraz (Ray)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I wanted to see what some of the faint structures and objects in my data actually were.

So in order to help identify what I managed to reveal in and around the massive spiral galaxy NGC 6872, I have compared my data to a deep high resolution image taken with
the 8.2m VLT (ANTU) at Parannal Observatory in Chile. The superior ANTU image helps to determine exactly what features are in my image and turns out there is a bit in there

This is a tight 6.8' X 6.8' field of view

VLT Comparison

Mike

the comparo is very useful in showing just how good your image really is. The seeing was obviously the only limit in this top class image of a wonderful part of the sky - in particular the fine detail in the region where the smaller galaxy has interacted with the condor is exceptionally well defined.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Shiraz

the comparo is very useful in showing just how good your image really is. The seeing was obviously the only limit in this top class image of a wonderful part of the sky - in particular the fine detail in the region where the smaller galaxy has interacted with the condor is exceptionally well defined.

Hey cheers Ray, yes as I have said before, gimmi a nice little isolated peak up in the northern Andes and I''ll be right ...hey, even one in the Flinders Ranges or even Warrumbungles would do

Mike

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Wow - that's an amazing field with so many galaxies. You've done a great job capturing the details. Thanks for sharing.

[Rex]

Wow Mike, the detail is superb. I love the little pink Ha areas in 6872.

[h0ughy (David)]

well you have been busy again - with great success

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Cheers Peter, Rex and Dave

Well, looking clear here tonight ......Full Moon ..gunna shoot something anyway 6nm narrow band filters to the rescue

Mike

[Atmos (Colin)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I wanted to see what some of the faint structures and objects in my data actually were.

So in order to help identify what I managed to reveal in and around the massive spiral galaxy NGC 6872, I have compared my data to a deep high resolution image taken with
the 8.2m VLT (ANTU) at Parannal Observatory in Chile. The superior ANTU image helps to determine exactly what features are in my image and turns out there is a bit in there

This is a tight 6.8' X 6.8' field of view

VLT Comparison

Mike

Pretty amazing what you're humble MUCH smaller telescope can do. Wonderfully captured

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

No idea how I missed this Mike - probably too teary eyed about my camera woes.

The full frame doesn't excite me (because it's not 100%! ) but oh my, the 100% crop is a cracker! The depth and detail you've achieved is excellent and the saturation is perfect . You're obviously getting some good seeing down there.

Cheers, Marcus

[RobF (Rob)]

Missed this one initially. Fascinating how you've gone all out on your Lum with 12.5 odd hours but only 1hr each R,G,B Mike. And it paid dividends big time. Wonderful field that fields really natural.

That VLT image almost looks a bit black clipped. They need you on their imaging team!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Atmos

Pretty amazing what you're humble MUCH smaller telescope can do. Wonderfully captured

Thanks Colin, the ANTU image is from 1999 and that's a rather small version so I'm not deluded, as I said it just helps to verify that detais are real (and not wavelette/Decon etc induced pretend detail )

Originally Posted by marc4darkskies

No idea how I missed this Mike - probably too teary eyed about my camera woes.

The full frame doesn't excite me (because it's not 100%! ) but oh my, the 100% crop is a cracker! The depth and detail you've achieved is excellent and the saturation is perfect . You're obviously getting some good seeing down there.

Cheers, Marcus

Cheers Marcus, thanks for the feedback, I was happy with how this one came together

Man, the SBIG large format cameras seem to have a few issues these days, must be incredibly frustrating considering the investment $ ?

Originally Posted by RobF

Missed this one initially. Fascinating how you've gone all out on your Lum with 12.5 odd hours but only 1hr each R,G,B Mike. And it paid dividends big time. Wonderful field that fields really natural.

That VLT image almost looks a bit black clipped. They need you on their imaging team!

Cheers Rob

Yes, I have never been a long RGB exposure man, it just simply isn't necessary, getting the best Lum possible is where it's all at

Mike

[RickS (Rick)]

Very cool, Mike! I'm late to the party so there's nothing much left to say that hasn't been said already... except maybe where are the jets? Great image, mate

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by RickS

Very cool, Mike! I'm late to the party so there's nothing much left to say that hasn't been said already... except maybe where are the jets? Great image, mate

Well...funny you should say that ....but I looked hard and stretched the beegeezus out of it and nup no jets ....I did use some decon buuuut I didn't try wavelettes hmmm?....

Cheers big ears

Mike